Life cycle assessment analysis of alternative constructions for a typical overpass structure in the course of motorways

As part of a feasibility study various alternative construction methods for a typical overpass structure on a federal motorway were compared and evaluated regarding their environmental impacts. In addition to today's standard constructions in steel composite and prestressed concrete, new, innovative solutions using wood, high-strength or carbon concrete were considered to analyze their potential in terms of sustainability aspects. The life cycle assessment method was used in addition to technical and economic criteria to enable a holistic view. The comparison was made for a specific overpass in the course of the planned A 20 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The technical solution for the various variants was planned by specialized engineers and specific quantities were determined. The idea is to realize these alternative variants in order to gain experience in the practical implementation. The following report presents the technical solutions of the variants. Then the applied methodology of the life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impacts is presented, and the potential of the new variants is discussed.